First-ever White House diversity and inclusion officer to leave post

Michael Leach, the first-ever White House diversity and inclusion officer, will leave his post by the end of the month, a White House official told The Hill.

Leach is special assistant to the president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at the White House. He was the first person to take on that role and started in January 2021, when President Biden first went into office.

He told White House colleagues a few weeks ago about his planned departure, and a search is underway to fill the role, the official said. Leach played a major role in making sure the Biden administration, which is the most diverse administration in U.S. history, reflects the diversity of America, the office added.

Leach told The Associated Press in an interview that he will reflect on how to increase equity across institutions before taking on his next role.

Before the White House, Leach was chief people officer and head of diversity and inclusion for Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. Before that, he worked in labor relations with the National Football League for more than five years and was an assistant to the head coach for the Chicago Bears for three years.

The Biden administration has been focused on increasing diversity and inclusion across the federal government, and Biden, on his first day in office, signed an executive order to advance racial equity in government. He also signed an executive order in February 2023 directing agencies to continue to promote equity.